How to Say "Black Coffee" in Spanish

café solo

/kaˌfe ˈsolo/

The English phrase "black coffee" is translated into Spanish as café solo.

In a Spanish-speaking cafe, you should use café solo to specify you want black coffee rather than a latte or cappuccino.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase café solo literally translates to "coffee alone", implying the coffee is unaccompanied by milk or sugar.

Café solo is the direct opposite of café con leche, which is coffee served with milk.

/kaˌfe ˈsolo/

The word café shares a distant linguistic ancestor with the Arabic word qahwa, which originally referred to a type of wine before being applied to coffee.
While café solo means black coffee, if you order a café cortado, you get coffee 'cut' with a small splash of milk to reduce the acidity.
Spanish has a specific term, café americano, for a café solo that has been diluted with hot water to make it milder.

"¿Soy el único que toma café solo?" "Sí, sos la única persona que lo toma así."
"Am I the only one who drinks black coffee?" "Yes, you're the only person who does that."
Tatoeba #11419751 by Masatami, translation #10513943 by shekitten
Buenos días, ¿me puede traer un café negro, por favor?
Good morning, can you bring me a black coffee, please?
En la reunión, por favor, sírvanos café solito.
In the meeting, please serve us black coffee.
En la mañana, siempre tomo un café americano bien cargado.
In the morning, I always have a strong black coffee.
Yo prefiero un café solo por la mañana.
I prefer a black coffee in the morning.
¿Me traes un café solo, por favor?
Will you bring me a black coffee, please?

In a small cafe during breakfast.

Javier

Hola, María. ¿Qué vas a pedir?
Hello, Maria. What are you going to order?
María

Yo quiero un café solo para mí.
I want a black coffee for myself.
Javier

Entiendo. Yo pediré un café con leche.
I see. I will order a coffee with milk.
María

Está bien, Javier. Vamos a pedir.
That is fine, Javier. Let's order.

Sources

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